Function-multiplying device for automatic mechanisms



Jan. 17, 1928. I 1,656,619

C. S. BURTON FUNCTION MULTIPLYING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MECHANISMS Filed June 6 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 17, 192s.-

C. S. BURTON FUNCTION MULTIPLYING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MECHANISMS Filed June 6, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,619

c. s. BURTON FUNCTION MULTIPLYING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MECHANISMS Filed June 6. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 y MWWW C. S. BURTON FUNCTION IIULTIPLYING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC IECHANISNS Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,619

Filed June 6. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J72 2/592 2 07". I r v V 'dr/as ,3: Barfon i2 @QWWMWGT Patented Jena 1?, 1923,

PATENT 'osrica.

CHARLES S. BURTON, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

FUNCTION-MULTIPLYING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MECHANISMS.

Application filed June 6,1925. Serial No. 35,442.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a mechanism which may be operated by, a controller, passing over a tracker or the like, for selectively controlling the, action of a multiplicity of functioning devices, as in an automatic musical instrument or pattern loom; and the specific purpose is to provide means for the selective individual actuation of a major number of separate devices for different functions by a minor number of actuators controlled by a minor number of control features in the controller sheet cooperating with a like number of motive fluid conductors in the tracker. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described, indicated in the claims;

In the drawings Figure 1 is a partial diagrammatic structure embodying this invent-ion, electric and pneumatic circuits or connections being indi cated by mere lines for showing their course.

Figure 2 is a section. at the line, 22, on Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a Figure 2.

Figures l, 5 and 6 are elevations of the second, third an l fourth of the combining plates or disks, the first plate being seen in Figure 2 Figure '4. is section similar to Figure 3, being a modification in which the combining plates have a double series of conductors for making the combin tions, section being made at. such plane as indicated at the line, 77, on Figure 9. V

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing tracker duct and electric circuit connections section at the line, 3-3, on

for controlling a disk of the nature of anelectric valve device to provide for adapting the apparatus to control a plurality offuncthe circuit connections to the several function-performing devices.

Figure 10 is a similar plan *iew of one of the combining plates having conductors for controlling three concurrently performed functions in the modification shown in Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a diagram for indicating in one plane the desirable and systematic distribution of the conductors in the several combining plates.

In the drawings there is shown an embodiment of this invention for the purpose of enabling a limited number of pneumatic ducts of a tracker board co-operating with a like number of lines of perforations of a perfo rated controller sheet to selectively control the operation individually of a much larger number ot'devices functioning in their severalways for the several partial and severable functions of the mechanism with which the tracker board is connected, which, in so far as they appear in detail in the drawings, are the devices for performing auxiliary functions in an automatic player mechanism; but it will be understood that this mechanism is only selected for illustration, and that the invention is not limited to mechanism for any particular purpose, but is designed to be applied to any mechanism having parts to be selectively operated or controlled.

In these drawings (see Figure 1) there is shown a section of a tracker board, A, and of a note sheet, B, travelling across the tracker board for controlling the ducts of the former by the perforations of the latter. C C C and C, are tubes leading from four ducts, c 0 c and 0*, of the tracker to small pnematics, (Z (F, (I and (Z in a partial vacuum chamber, D, wherein these pneumatics operate electric switches, 6 6 e and e, for controlling electromagnetic devices, preferably dupl 2: solenoids. E E E and F}. which for such control are connected by circuit wires, 7' 7", f and f with insulated contacts, 9 and 9 mounted on the chamber, D.

Each of the duplex and Ff, is connected by solenoids. E E a link, G, attached to its reciprocating core member, E E E and E to one of tour disks, H H andv 31*, which constitute agroup of combining plates which are mounted side side "for parallel movement between opposite side walls, K, K of a casing which may com- I pletely enclosethese combining'plates, and

their respectively operating duplex solenoids, E E E and E These combining plates are actuated back and forth by the bacl ancl-fo1'th movement or the reciprocating core members, E iL E and E, of the respective duplex solenoids with which they are connected, the-- notch, 10, in the periphery or the plate;

Each of said combining plates, being made of insulating material has a pluralityof conductors extendingthrough it arranged in succession along the path of its stepmovement, the extent of each combining plate in the path of its step movementbeing preferably a relatively large multiple of the diameter, or dimension in said path, of each of the conductors. In the embodiment ofthe invention which is shown in the drawings, these parallel-moving combining plates are disks mounted for rotation about a common axis, the path of movement, therefore, being circular about that axis, and the length of step movement being, in the particular construction illustrated, onethirty-second of a full BVGljltlOD, thus creating aposslbility 0t thirty-two difi erent'conductors in the length of the path of movement. These conductors are each designated by a letter it with an exponent'wlnch is the ordinal of the conductor,

counting in the right hand order from any selected starting point; that is to say, the conductor at the selected starting pomt belnglndicated by 72, the conductors in right hand order having their exponents-increasing' up to thirty-two; so that the last conductor to the rightone point to the left of the starting p01nt,1s designated in. Conductors are not provided in all the combining plates, H H, H and H at allthe step limits throughout the circuit or path of movement; but, on the contrary, each plate has certain blank or condnctorless that is, certain step limits are without conductors, and these conductorless steps are distributed. differently on the several combinin Jlates H H H and H The non-movable members, H and H between which all the conductor plates, H H H and H are rotatably mounted have conductors in the form of insulated binding posts at all (except as hereinafter, stated) of the thirty-two steps in the circle in which conductors of the combining plates are located. At only two points',that is, at two of the step limits of the thirty-two (the points, 29 and 80, on Fig. 11), all four of the combining plates, H H H and H have a conpositions or these conductors with each other through-and-through all four combining plates at the normal position of rest of said plates only at two points in theentire C11- cum'terence; and at these two points the fixed member, H, may have the binding post conductors omitted; or if present,as shown in dotted line in Fig. 1, which shows all thirty-two binding posts,.the' binding posts at these two step limits are without circuit wire connections with any device to be operated, and are therefore functionless. For the purpose hereinafter described, the 'remaining thirty binding post conductors have v ductor, so that there is registration of the circuit wires connected,as seen in Figure 3 with respect to the two p0sts, h and h which appear in that figure. wires'are designated and may be referred to by reference letters, J and j, with exponents These circuit corresponding to those of the respective binding posts, those seen in nigure 3 being accordingly designated J and J The dlstributlon of the conductorless areas or points on the several combining plates, H

H H and Hflis such that at the normal position of rest 01' said plates there is no through-and-through registration of operative conductors, and so that a one-step movementwhich is all that is possible,ot one of the plates away from that position of rest, will complete the through-and-through registration of the conductors at some one point; and movement ofanot-her of the plates one step will complete the registration at some other one point, the movement of a third plate one step will complete registration at a third point, and the movement of the fourth plate one step will complete registration at a fourth point; and so that the movement of the plates by twos will complete registration at as many different points as the number of possible combinations, two-andtwo, of four units being six; and that the movement of the plates by threes, eachone step, will complete the registration of all four plates at as many different points as the number of possible combinationsby threes, which is four; and as above noted, all four plates having registered conductors at one point in the rest position of the plates, the

movement of all four plates onestep'will bring these four registeredconductors into.

registration with a binding post conductor iii) of the fixed member, H, thus completing registration through-and-through of conductors of all four plates and the binding post conductor of said fixed member. Fifteen combinations or groups being possible of any four units (counting a single one as a group), it will be seen that it will be possible by simultaneously actuating either any one of the four plates, H H H and H or, any two of them, or, any three of them, or, all four of them, to thereby produce registration through-and-through for connection with any one of fifteen circuit wires, J, with an exponent which are connected with certain fifteen binding post conductors in the fixed member, H, whose ordinal is the exponent of J. It will also be noticed that the fifteen registrations inclicated are effected by movement of the binding plate in one direction,say, to the right. Another fifteen registrations may be effected similarly by moving the binding plates, H H H and H singly or in groups of two, three or four, to the left, thereby effecting registration through-and-through with any one of fifteen additional binding post conductors of the fixed members, and with any one of the circuit wires, with an exponent, which exponent is the ordinal of the binding post conductor. The circuit wires of the series, J and y' with the exponent,- except one as hereinafter mentioned has leading to a duplex solenoid for a particular purpose,- may be understood as leading each to magneto-pneumatic unit indicated conventionally at L (Fig. 1) which comprises an electro-magnet Z and a motor pneumatic, U, for performing any specific function required in the operation of the mechanism for which the device is designed, and in the present instance for performing any one of the auxiliary functions in an automatic player mechanism or the like.

By reference to Figure 11 in which the circles Do. I, II, III and IV show the distribution of the conductors and the conductorless areas of the binding plates, H H H and H respectively, and the thirty-two numbered radial lines indicate the position of the thirty-two possible out-leading conductors of the J and series respectively, which are fifteen in each series, plus two conductorless points, it may be understood that the combining plates being given a single step movement to the right or tothe left will therebv effect through-and-through registration of their conductors, and so open electric communication with the circuit wires of the twoseries, J and j, for operating function-performing devices such as the motor pneumatic, L of the magneto-pneumatic unit, L, for actuating whatever mech anism or part of a mechanism is served by the device. The following table shows this distribution, and may also serve to show Table of conductors of combining plates 1, 11, HI and IV.

Combining plate numbers Outlet numbers III IV The following table shows the throughand-through registrations which are obtained by the dili'erent combinations which are possible to the left and to the right:

Combining plate moved I to right "gives registration at outlet No.

to left ditto 26 II ditto 3 n H i; a dim) n III ditto 5 ditto 22 I2 I ditto T 1 and II Slit t (I At It It A! l! I and III ditto ll 2 I f u ditto is t i H i 3353 i: II and III gitto l5 ittoi2 and IF ditto 17 ditto III and IV H ditto it;

ditto 8 I, and III H ditto 21 I, and IV l t i t ditto l. 4

I, III and IV ditto 25 i. a l m0 1: 2

IEIII an d IV gitgo 27 i. i u u it 0 a 32 I, II, III and IV ditto 31 I, II, III and IV ditto :28

For actuating the binding plates, H H H."- and H, selectively either to the right or to the left, according to the particular functions to be innnediately performed by the group of solenoids next to be brought into action, each of the solenoids, E E E and E, is preferably of the duplex type,t-hat is to say, its reciprocating core is interposed between and extends into two fixed members having the solenoid windings, said core at rest: position extending equally into both windings, the two windings being connected with circuit-wires of the series, J and. 9', respectively for energizing them to give the core member its operating stroke which will be in one direction or the other'according to which of the windings is thus energized.

For controlling these duplex solenoids circuit wires, 0), 92 a and 42*, lead from the inner windings oi the respective solenoids, E E E and E to binding post conductors, cc, 150 and ra in aconductor board, Eli] {and from the outer windings of the respective solenoids, circuit wires, m m m and m lead to binding post conductors,

g if, pi and y ot the same conductor board, Ell, the binding post conductors of the first set alternating with the binding-post conductors of the second set in said board; and a switchboard, cc, is mounted upon the conductor board, EE, with range ot movement to register the binding post conductors, ee ee 66 and 66*, either with the binding post conductors, 0 03 and m, or with the binding post conductors,- g y 7 y and y The circuit wires, ,7, t3 and f are connected respectively with the binding post conductors, 06 66 66 and 66 of the switchboard, cc. 7

A duplex solenoid, L, controlled as to one of its windings by any selected circuit wires, J (with numeral exponent) and as to the other winding by the corresponding circuit wire, j, (with numeral exponent) has the reciprocating core-member, L connected with the switchboard, cc, for actuating the latter in one direction for registering one set of conductors, and for actuating said board int-he opposite direction for actuating the other set 01"" conductors. The two circuit wires shown as selected being J and j, are respectively rendered operative for bringing into service the solenoids which they respectively control by the same combining plate movements, which according to the foregoing table are of the combining plates, 1, II

and 1V only that in the case of the wire,

J, the movement is to the left, and in the case of the wire, j, the movement is to the right; but the group ot apertures in a note sheet for moving the combining plates mentioned will always inean,and always produce,a reversal of the direction of the step.

movement of the plates, H H H and H. H the last precedingmovement was to the right, the wire, J will be brought into the ircuit and the valve board, 06, will be shitted so that the step action will be to the left; and it thelast step action was to the left, the wire, j, will be brought into the circuit and will-cause the valve board to be shifted in the opposite direction, causing the next step action to be to the right.

Lf in'the mechanism in connection with which this device may be applied, certain functions to be performed are required to be performed simultaneously with one, two,1,or I even with three other functions, the present 7 invention may be adapted to such simulta-.

'neous production of such simultaneous funcplates what my be called a valve member-,1 ,and theseieral plates, H H H and.

11 H which have conductors, k to 72/ to be registe ed through-and-through tor any of the functions concurrently with which other functions are to be performed, are provided with conductors denoted byh", with a numeral exponent, said conductors radially aligned respectively with the conductors of the It series having the same numerical exponent as those of the outer circle with which they are thusradially al1gned,sa1dconductors iv. with an exponent hem arran ed in a circle concentric with said principal or, 1

outer circle of conductors, h with a numeral cxponentv This valve memben'H has a normal position at which all its conductors are out or registrationwith the conductors of the inner circle of conductorsof the series, 7L, and are brought into registration wi h them respectively upon movement of said valve member a certain step from its normal position of non-registration. An,ad

ditional tracker duct 0 and line of controller sheet perforations b may be used for actuat ing the valve member, H by means ofa' magneto-pneumatic unit, M, comprising solenoid Er", corresponding to the solenoids, E E and Et the perforations in the line for controlling it being made to hold said valve inemberiat the first described position throughout any portion of the travel of.

the note sheet through which simultaneous performance of two functions is desired, the

valve member, H being preferably returned to closing position by a spring, M when the action oi the magneto-pneumatic unit, M, ceases at the termination of the aperture (or r 'ro'uo ol closel successive a ertures havin tracker ducts are utilized, one combination of each total of fiittecn being used for changthe direction or" step movement, the excess may be taken advantage of for twoor more simultaneous functions dispensing with the valve member, H and with the use of the additional trackerduct for con trolling it. This is done in the following manner:

Any particular function which is sometimes to be performed alone and sometimes to be performed simultaneously with another function has appropriated to it two combinations of a possible total of fifteen. F or one of them the combining plates, H H H and H and the fixed member, H, have conductors only in the outer or principal circle, and for the other function said mem bers have additional conductors arranged in an inner or secondary circle; and circuit wires for controlling the second function lead from the binding post conductors of the fixed member, H, in the second circle for connection with circuit wires from the binding post conductors of the first circle which pertain'to the second function. Four illustrations of this expedient are shown in 9 of the drawings. Radially aligned with the conductors, Fri/L h and h, of the principal circle, the second circle (see Fig. 9) in each of the combining plates, H H H and H, and the fixed member, H, has conductors, ZLXG, h h if, and the circuit wires, j. 5 j i leading from these ports in the fixed n'iember, H, are all connected with the circuit wire, J, leading from the binding post conductor, h. The binding post conductor, 7L6, it, h and it, may be understood as constitutinga set of conductors, controlling for example, the selection of solo groups for accentuating the solo in playing, in case of the employment of this invention for controlling an automatic playing mechanism. Four other binding post conductors, for example, if, k

h and h, are also connected for control ling the same functions respectively, and the circuit wires, 7' j j and j, leading from the binding post conductors, ]L2, [L8, 71/ and 71 are connected respectively with the circuit wires, j, j, 7' and 1', leading from the binding post conductors, 71. h it and h, as seen at 40; so that either of the two combinations will perform respective solo functions. The binding post conductor, it", may be assumed to be the controlling conductor for any function which is to be performed simultaneously with these solo functions, as, for example, for controlling the soft pedal for softening the accompaniment. When the solo'functions are to be performed alone, the combination of controller sheet perforations for binding post conductors, 7L2, 7L8, h and k will be used, and when the solo functions are to be performed simultaneously with the soft pedal functions, the combination for binding post conductors, h h it and it will be used. It will. be evident that a similar expedient may be employed for more than two functions; that is, a third circle of conductors may be used having conductors at certain radial lines where three obtained from the same combination of apertures in the controlling sheet. This is indicated by ports marked in, k FL 7a in Fi ure 10. The method. of carrying out the circuit wire connections from these conductors of the third series may be understood from the foregoing descriptions as to the conductors from the second series without further illustration.

I claim 1. A device for the purpose indicated comprising a plurality of combining plates mounted for movement in parallelism with each other through definite step dfltances; means for positioning them all normally at a selected starting or res position, and means for giving them ineividually in selected groups a definite step mo emen't from said normal rest position, each plate having a series of electric current conductors arranged in succession along the path of the movement, each plate having an i. ruption in the series of conductors at a point at which the other plates have the series uninterrupted, and having a conductor at the next step-distant point from that at which sa' interruption occurs; the s/veral plates differing from each other to the point at which the interruption occurs; whereby movement of different plates a step distance from the normal rest positions produces througlrand-through registration of the current conductors in all the plates at different points in the path of movement.

2. In the construction defined in claim 1, fore oing, it fixed member adjacent to one side of the group of plates which have the step movement, said fixed member having motive fluid current conductors and current carriers leading therefrom at the step intervals along the path of moven'ientof the plate, for registration with the through-andthrough conductors of the movable plates.

3. In the construction defined in claim 1, each of the movable plates having two or more parallel series of conductors, the con ductors of each series be ng arranged as called for in claim 1; whereby the same step movement of the same plate or combination of plates may effect re istration through and through them at cei. ain points simultaneously in each of the several series.

4-. In the construction defined in claim 1, the means of step actuation of the conductorcarrying plates being adapted for moving them in either direction from the normal rest position, and means for shifting the connection of said operating means to change the direction of the step movement.

5. In the construction defined in claim 1, the means of step actuation of the conductorcarrying plates being adapted for moving them in either direction from normal rest position, and said means having alternative connections with a source of electric current causing said means to operate for movement in one direction or the other according to the alternative made operative; and

erated means for shifting the connection of said actuating means to change the direction of the step-by-step movement, said last mentioned means comprising electric circuit connections from vone line of through-and- Vthrou h re istered conductors whose regis b b an tration is produced by means of a selected combination of the movable members,

6. A device for the purpose indicated com-v risin in combination a err orated con troller sheet'and a tracker having'ducts cooperating with the perforations of the sheet; a partial-vacuum chamber and primary pneumatics thereinduct connected with the tracker ducts respectively; motive-fluid-opmeans controlled the primary pneumatics respectively, and movementcommunicating connections therefrom, a group of combining plates mounted for movement in parallelism with each other through a definite step distance; means for positioning all said plates normally at a selected starting or rest position; said movement-communicating connections being connected to said combining plates respectively for giving the plates individually in selected groups, definite single step movements from said normal rest position, each combining plate having a series of electrical conductors each extending through the plate from side to side arranged in succession along the path of step movement of the plate, each plate having an interruption in the series of electrical conductors at a point atwhich the other plates of the group have the series uninterrupted, and having one of the conductors at the next stepdistant point from that at which said interruption occurs, the several plates differing from each other as 'to the point at which the interruption occurs, whereby, upon movement of different the means controlled by the primary pneu matics being electro magnetic devices having their moving armature elements connected with the respective combiningplates. 7

8. In the construction defined in claim 6, the electrically-operated function-controlling means being electro-magneticdevices and valve-controlled motor pneumatics constituting' the function-performing means; and valves for controlling said pneumatics operatively connected with the armature elements of said electro-magnetic devices.

9. In combination with the construction defined in claim 6, fixed members at opposite sides of the group of combining plates, said fixed members having msulated binding post conductors at the step intervals along the path of movement of the conductors of the combining plates for registration and electrical connection through the group of plates, and electric circuit wires for completing electric circuits through saidregistered binding posts and combining-platecarried conductors and the electrica1ly-operated controllersfor the function-performing evices. V Y I In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of June, 1925. Y r

CHARLES s. BURTON 

